13 Ways to Dress Wide Windows
Make the most of your wall of glass with window treatments that balance privacy and light
I am an Interior Decorator in PA, stitching my urban roots into suburban spaces from NY to Philly. I am living my dream helping people achieve inspirational spaces. Visit me at www.loveyourroom.com and check out my blog for inspirational ideas.
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Do you have one really long window, or a group of windows side by side, such as sliding or French doors? Wide windows can keep a room bright and showcase a gorgeous view, but they can also make you feel overwhelmed when you think about dressing them. Here are important considerations to note before purchasing window treatments:
What is your goal? Do you need the treatments to be functional, decorative, or both?
What is your budget? There are window treatment options that can showcase your windows, that could flow well with the look of your room, and that will not break the budget. Treating windows grouped together or individually can add or take away to the total cost.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
What is your goal? Do you need the treatments to be functional, decorative, or both?
What is your budget? There are window treatment options that can showcase your windows, that could flow well with the look of your room, and that will not break the budget. Treating windows grouped together or individually can add or take away to the total cost.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
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| Treat multiple windows as one by pairing drapes on only the outer edges. If you need privacy or to block the light but do not want spend the money on the amount of fabric it would take to fully open and close, create stationary drapes just one to two widths each. Layer a shade behind the drapes. If the windows are high, consider a motorized shade, which usually come with a remote control or wall switch. Some remotes can operate up to five separate windows. |
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by Sylvia Martin
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| For a soft effect, hang sheers from a rod from wall to wall. Sheers do not use lining so they are less expensive to make, or buy readymade, and they do not look bulky when hung across a long window. I like the use of the grommets for long windows if not using a traverse rod because they keep a nice tall shape near the rod. |
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| If you have a wall of windows that almost stretch end to end, add lightweight panels between them to create an illusion that there is no break between each window. This is a great look when using non-functional (stationary) drapes because functional drapes could require more widths of fabric, which gets costly, and you end up with a bulkier look that will allow in less light. If you need privacy for this look, use a shade mounted behind the drapes. Hang the rod longer than than where the windows end to create the look of wall-to-wall windows. |
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| To keep a beautiful outside view complete, consider drapes pulled back to one side. You will want to use a traverse rod vs. a traditional rod because the traverse rod does not have the brackets that stop longs windows from fully opening and closing. Traverse rods come in decorative and plain versions. Open and close your treatments with the pull of a cord or twist of a wand. The cord or wand runs through a pulley system in the rod, which slides the drapery hanger hooks along a track. They stack back nicely. |
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by Stonewood, LLC
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| If you want the look of drapes that are nonfunctional, but do not want to have the rod go all the way across your wide windows, consider getting two smaller rods long enough for a single panel each. If you're using wood rods, you can cut them to the size you need. |
For windows grouped together along a long wall with a uniquely shaped window in the center, you can add a wood or metal pole with a drape over just each side window. Leave the uniquely shaped window alone because it is so interesting by itself.
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by RLH Studio
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| To allow light in and still be able to showcase a great view, try a valance. When you measure for the height it will be, add more inches if you can to mount it closer to the ceiling so the windows look taller. Valances should cover any blinds or shades you may want to add underneath. You do not need to spend a lot on the blind or shade underneath your valance, because it won't show when not in use. |
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| A cornice is another option. Yes, unless you know how to create a cornice, they are custom creations, but cornice boards do not require a lot of fabric or sewing, so they are not as costly. You can add pretty trim and design the shape. Measured and installed correctly, they will hide any functioning blinds or shades. |
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by Amelia Bennett
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| A window scarf draped across a long window will create an elegant yet lightweight look. Unlike a valance, it will let more sunlight through. |
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| A wide group of windows can look so much cleaner and elegant when addressed as one big window. For example, a roman shade across a few windows adds scale and height if mounted a bit higher than the window, creating a lovely look. |
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| If you need multiple roman shades to fill a wide wall of windows, make sure you choose a pattern that allows you to stack each shade next to each other so it feels like one long shade. When there are no breaks in between each shade, your window looks streamlined. Tip: Don't forget to hang them higher than the windows if your windows are low. When measuring the height you need for the shades, be sure to include the extra material to cover the gap between ceiling and top of the window. |
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| These balloon-shade valances connected to stretch across the bank of smaller windows creates a grander look. Again, you can hide privacy blinds behind each window. |
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| For wide, uniquely designed windows that do not require privacy, opt for simply painting the trim for architectural interest. |
Ideabook published on Oct. 29, 2011.
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Now my problem is black solar shades or white?I like both....
My floor is black Granit and my furniture white and wood.I am afraid that i will tire of the black or that the white would be too boring.
Any suggestion to help me make my decision?
First I custom trimmed my windows with the same hardwood floor boards as my floor (strand woven bamboo). It looks one of a kind extremely custom and clean.
Then I found a high end feature that I loved, but I discovered how to get it without a high end price. I'm talking about the motorized remote controlled solar shades. I found av-outlet dot com who sells the individual parts and will happily give you advice on what you need to build your own. There I bought somfy ST30 motors for solar shades. I ordered the fabric online (Sheerweave fabric, easy to find) and the rest of the parts to build my own roller shades. The key here is that av-outlet sells the exact parts that other companies use to build the shades, and they literally click together like lego, it's so easy you will be shocked. You will be able to build custom motorized shades for half the price! Each shade takes maybe 45 min to build. Most of the time is spent cutting the shade fabric and the aluminum roller tube to the exact size needed.
I also found a bracket on their website that allows for 2 shades mounted vertically above each other. This allows you have to one solar shade that has maybe 20% openess (can see the view outside nicely, but still shade) and a second shade that is full blackout. Now I truly have the best of both worlds for my lighting needs, all on a remote and it didn't break the bank! I'm a DIY'er so I ran the cables for the motorized shades through the walls to the nearest electrical outlet so you see no cables at all. I also spray painted the mounting brackets and roller shade parts all in matte black spray paint primer, so everything is black and it looks stunning. If you're feeling ambitious I highly recommend looking into the ideas I just mentioned, but it is a quite a bit of work.
I have to admit, dual roller shades (blackout plus a nice sheer that shows the view) just can't be beat. Especially when you just click a button on a remote control.
Good luck!
Edit - note the cables are just for electrical power. The motor is radio frequency controlled from the remote control. This is also awesome because it allows you to control blinds through walls and on other floors. Once I have my entire house complete I'll be able to close all the window shades at night in the entire house with one button press. I'm also currently looking into a system that will sync up the shades on a phone app. I'm sure this can be hooked into my cell phone alarm so in the morning when the alarm goes off the shades will go up in the bedroom. Talk about modern! Don't just go for the modern look, go for the modern convenience, technology and luxuries that will put visitors in awe when they come over! :)
We have a 94"w X 70"h double end vent sliding window, I'm wondering if the shades can be mounted inside end to end so there is no gap, similar to the last picture with striped shades. In your experience with the DIY shade do you think this could be done?